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Kite Gear for Airstyle

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Toby
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Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Toby » Mon Jan 14, 2013 11:23 am

People keep asking me which sizes I use and what I recommend.

That is a question I cannot really answer.
Everyone is different, has different experience, different weight, different conditions.
So wind ranges are relative, since e.g. I can hold my 18 in gusts up to 25 knots in warm air...in colder air it is less, since the air is more dense.

In general I recommend as big as you can handle it. Big, because it gives you more hangtime and the kite will have slower turning, which means more control.
For example, I use my 18 sqm kite 95% of the time, and I use the inner bar connection, so it is as slow as possible.
But...too slow is also not good...you still need to be able to loop the kite for tricks like Jesus Walks.

When you buy a kite, best is to try it before, and see the control, bar feedback, hangtime and lift of the kite. Hangtime is very important, because you need time in the air for quiet many tricks.

Then start in lighter winds, and keep experiencing it with stronger and stronger winds, to see where your limit is.

At the same time use a smaller board to be able to edge and control the power of the kite.

Use a depower as long as possible, this way you can also hold more pressure.
Back then everyone said, the C-kites don't have much depower...but the people used shorter depowers, leading to less depower possibility of the kite. I always had a long depower, so I always had a bigger range on C-kites as well.

When using bigger kites, you should also be more aware regarding safety and weather.
Launching and landing kites need more precaution. Good explanations with video you will find on my Airstyle DVD: www.airstyle.tv

I hope it helps!

Greets
Toby

Yannous
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Yannous » Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:32 pm

Hi Toby !

Thanks for the advice, i love your style and before i saw you on the web i thought i was almost alone loving air style and hooked tricks ... So happy to find that a lot of people are enjoying it and working on it ! :thumb:

I'm following you now ! :wink:
Thanks again.

Yann from south east coast of France. :)

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Toby
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Posts: 50343
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Toby » Sat Mar 09, 2013 12:56 am

great to hear Yann!

Keep pushing it! :thumb:

astralkiter
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby astralkiter » Thu Nov 06, 2014 5:08 am

Hi Toby and all otherairstylers!
I am riding a 12 Rebel from 2008 and it is time to change my gear. I would like to go more in the air style direction and not sure which kites would fit me and my style best. My weight is 76 kg and after reading all your posts and tips regarding air style my favorites are the following:

Ozone Edge
Naish Draft
Flysurfer Speed 4 Lotus

So what do you think about these wings? Which one would you prefer and why? Or would you go with a different kite?

Thank you and hopefully somebody can help!

Klaus

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Toby
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Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Toby » Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:43 pm

I don't try many kites so I don't really know.
But from what I have read you can't go wrong with these kites.
Make sure to have it rather bigger than smaller to be able to do such tricks...

Still the problem with the microloop no matter which kite :(

Westozzy
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Westozzy » Thu Nov 06, 2014 11:31 pm

astralkiter wrote:Hi Toby and all otherairstylers!
I am riding a 12 Rebel from 2008 and it is time to change my gear. I would like to go more in the air style direction and not sure which kites would fit me and my style best. My weight is 76 kg and after reading all your posts and tips regarding air style my favorites are the following:

Ozone Edge
Naish Draft
Flysurfer Speed 4 Lotus

So what do you think about these wings? Which one would you prefer and why? Or would you go with a different kite?

Thank you and hopefully somebody can help!

Klaus

Are you looking for a 12m per say?

If not add the 18m airstyle rebel to your list if you really want to do down the airstyle path. (I'm 75kg).

If it's around the 12m mark (which in my mind is too small for airstyle no matter what kite), then consider the new 2015 dyno. I had a crack on one the other day and bloody well shouldn't have!!!
It's unreal. Damn naggit!!!

astralkiter
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Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 11:14 am
Local Beach: Lake Como - Colico (Italy)
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El Gouna
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby astralkiter » Fri Nov 07, 2014 1:28 am

Will there be a new Dyno? When will it be on the market? Will it have same characteristics as Dyno 2011?

I said now I am riding a 12 Rebel, but if I need a bigger one for Airstyle, there is no problem.

The problem is that I dont like big kites because they are soo slow but as I understood that is crucial for Airstyle..

So maybe i have to look for bigger kites. Dyno could be interesting.

But someone could comment on the other 3? Which one will be better for airstyle and why?

Cheers!!

Westozzy wrote:
astralkiter wrote:Hi Toby and all otherairstylers!
I am riding a 12 Rebel from 2008 and it is time to change my gear. I would like to go more in the air style direction and not sure which kites would fit me and my style best. My weight is 76 kg and after reading all your posts and tips regarding air style my favorites are the following:

Ozone Edge
Naish Draft
Flysurfer Speed 4 Lotus

So what do you think about these wings? Which one would you prefer and why? Or would you go with a different kite?

Thank you and hopefully somebody can help!

Klaus

Are you looking for a 12m per say?

If not add the 18m airstyle rebel to your list if you really want to do down the airstyle path. (I'm 75kg).

If it's around the 12m mark (which in my mind is too small for airstyle no matter what kite), then consider the new 2015 dyno. I had a crack on one the other day and bloody well shouldn't have!!!
It's unreal. Damn naggit!!!

Westozzy
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Westozzy » Fri Nov 07, 2014 2:14 am

[quote="astralkiter"]Will there be a new Dyno? When will it be on the market? Will it have same characteristics as Dyno 2011?

I said now I am riding a 12 Rebel, but if I need a bigger one for Airstyle, there is no problem.

The problem is that I dont like big kites because they are soo slow but as I understood that is crucial for Airstyle..

So maybe i have to look for bigger kites. Dyno could be interesting.

But someone could comment on the other 3? Which one will be better for airstyle and why?

Cheers!!



Righto', very very simply (always more to it)...

Ozone Edge: Owned and ridden, beautiful wing. Lacks bar pressure feedback when doing anything other than a simple board offs. Needs throw attention when in the air, especialy during rotations ...I keep losing where the bloody wing was. But you can still make it work, but there are better airstyle kites. No micro loop, stopper. Get a north bar.

Naish Draft: never ridden one. 3 struts on a big kite for airstyle is not suitable in my opinion. great for wave kites and hybrid C do it all jobs..and also for light weight low end kites for cruising and freeride. But again I'm sure it will be fine. Built to jump after all. Bar pressure worries me personally with a dicky AC joint.

Flysurfer Speed 4 Lotus: Ask Gunnar, email him from 'any given sunday' post, although he doesn't ride them anymore. Would love to try one but no FS down here close enough to try.

They will all work no probs. Gotta try them man see which one clicks with you.

I've been doing alright on a 12m 2015 rebel, but normally with 28 or 32m lines to slow it down. But only the basics though, need more than 12m over your head to really push it unless ya are just jumping big with simple board offs/grabs/wizards/tic tacs. tail spins, indi flips etc. Good bar feedback.

New dyno 13m (6 strut, weird bridled thingy), read somewhere it had a real 'mechanical' feel, it does. Great bar feedback, suitable for low water level stuff as well. Superb hangtime like all those kites above. Upwind angles are crazy. Need more rides on it for specifics, but super super stable, rock solid in the sky. Was doing some AS stuff on my meduim board in shit winds where the 12m's were just going along on light wind TT's. Apparently sick in 23-25. Can't wait to try.

User avatar
Toby
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Posts: 50343
Joined: Mon Sep 24, 2001 1:00 am
Kiting since: 2000
Weight: 95 kg
Local Beach: Cumbuco, Brazil
Barra do Cauipe, Brazil
Favorite Beaches: same
Style: Airstyle
Gear: Rebel 2015 18
Brand Affiliation: None.
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Has thanked: 831 times
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Contact:

Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Toby » Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:43 am

How fast is the new Dyno turning?

Westozzy
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Re: Kite Gear for Airstyle

Postby Westozzy » Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:01 am

Let me try it a few more times Toby, the guy had it on outside settings, will try on inside. It was a 13m so you'd find it way too fast... :D but I know what you are asking...

The person I borrowed it off, is a sick ariel specialist. He either races (like on a race board and all that jazz .... the whole hog) or does board off work, both ariel and low water level stuff (jesus walks etc). Sick,sick rider...He got bored of the unhooking stuff ( I remember actually he was realitvely proficcient actually, not a PKRA dude, but by far the best out there. After so many years and now just concentrates on this...

Had a convo' with him today (he's been around since day dot really in the industry) and he said it used to take him a week to two weeks to nail a specific unhooked move, sometimes a little more on the real advanced stuff, but about that. Took him 6 months to be comfortable with advanced board flips (board kicked out from the straps) and consequent variations. He said he pisses himself laughing when these wakestyle try hards try and tell him what's harder.(a lot of his mates)..that's becuase they have never taken both to their advanced level, while he has. He also said his biggest wipeouts and serious injuries have come from the airstyle advanced stuff. He said I have surfing mates who just laugh at the kiters trying to emulate surfing, he said they find it hilarious. He said his wakestyle buddies (the real wakeboarders) think the kiters are kooks...he said just go out their and kite for gods sake.!

Anyhow was an interesting discussion, I'm not sure I agree with all he said, but hey instead most of these whacko's on these forums, I can safely tell you this guy smokes in all the areas.

On a side note he said mate I will bring my old race board down and he said I guarantee you, you will struggle to ride 10m without eating shit. He said all his 'extreme' wakestyle buddies become very humbled when they try this. So it shows you, each discipline has a lot to teach us. I thought racing looked notoriously easy and boring as bat shit, he said I have no idea what I'm talking about...and I said I think you are right...but at least I know that, unlike some.... :D

Get back to you on the dyno...interestingly also he said the new dyno (13M, need to stress the size) really responds to a C kite type send, not the usual bow idea. Still goes well with a bow send technique, but it loves to be wanged from low down and sent way past 12....interesting again...


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